Number of Syrian refugees hits one million as war rages on

More than one million Syrians - around half of whom are children - have fled
their country since the first fighting against President Bashar al-Assad
began two years ago, the UN said on Wednesday.

Our Foreign Staff

1:31PM GMT 06 Mar 2013

Most of the refugees have fled to the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq but are increasingly trying to reach North Africa and Europe. Around half of Syrian refugees are children; the majority of those under the age of 11.

Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said: "With a million people in flight, millions more displaced internally, and thousands of people continuing to cross the border every day, Syria is spiralling towards full-scale disaster."

"This number translates into one million people who are dependent on the generosity of host countries, the response of humanitarian agencies and the financial support of governments and individuals," said Mr Guterres.

He added: "We are doing everything we can to help, but the international humanitarian response capacity is dangerously stretched. This tragedy has to be stopped."

The UNHCR is currently able to provide refugees with a tent, a blanket, a sleeping mat, 2,000 calories a day and 20 litres of water a day.

Mr Guterres noted that Lebanon's population has increased by as much as 10 percent since the outbreak of civil war in Syria, whilst Turkey has spent over $600m on 17 camps for Syrian refugees, with more under construction.

Iraq, which itself has over a million internally displaced citizens, has taken in around 100,000 Syrians in the past year.

"These countries should not only be recognised for their unstinting commitment to keeping their borders open for Syrian refugees, they should be massively supported as well," said Mr Guterres.

The exodus from Syria has increased dramatically this year, with around 400,000 people fleeing abroad since Jan 1.

Only a year ago, the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) had 33,000 Syrian refugees registered in camps outside the country.

It had previously expected that refugee numbers would reach 1.1 million by June, but an increase in the fighting at the end of last year has led to a revision of these estimates.

Panos Moumtzis, the UNHCR regional coordinator for Syrian refugees, said 7,000 Syrians have been crossing into neighbouring countries every day since the fighting escalated in December.

He said: "When you stand at the border crossing, you see this human river flowing in, day and night."

The UK's International Development Secretary, Justine Greening, said international donors must deliver the aid they have pledged.

These donors pledged over $1.5bn in humanitarian aid to the Syrian people at a pledging conference held in Kuwait in January, but only $200m has been processed so far.

A refugee camp in Syria on the border with Turkey

Ms Greening said: "Syria's neighbours cannot deal with this alone and all donors must rapidly deliver on the promises they made in Kuwait."

She added: "Britain has never stood on the sidelines and we are determined to make sure our support gets help to those in need as quickly and effectively as possible."

The UK has pledged £139.5m in aid to Syria since the start of the uprising.

Ms Greening added that it was vulnerable groups, such as women and children who are "at greatest risk".